Apparatus for filling containers



Jan. 3, 1939. s. SAETA APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS s Sheets-Sheet: 1

Filed Janv 16, 1937 m QR SAHUE; SAETA KAM-a 8% A TTORNEY Jan. 3, 1939. s, SAETA 2,142,257

APPARATUS FOR FILLING SIONTAINERS Filed Jan. 16, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 673/105 1. 54E TA FIGJI. avfl -gig 4 7' TORNEY Jan. 3, 1939. s SAETA 2,142,257

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 16, 1937 v s Sheet-Sheet s ski/qua IS/[774 Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 19 Claims.

My present invention relates to apparatus of the same nature as that disclosed in my pending application filed November 12, 1935, Serial Number 49,345, and it has broadly the same objects in View. More specifically, it is an improvement on that apparatus, making it simpler in construction and more positive in its operation.

Briefly stated, the invention is a device for filling containers with liquid or semi-liquid substances. It is practically automatic in its operation, requiring only that the liquid be supplied and containers be provided it for filling and be removed from it after they have been filled. To increase its output, a plurality of containers are preferably filled and removed simultaneously and at each cycle of operations, the material being forced into the containers through a plurality of separate nozzles, each of which is connected with a corresponding force pump. Any desired number of nozzles and pumps may be embodied, six being shown. The containers are carried in an elongated carrier which is made in sections, each of which is provided with a series of alined sockets in which the containers are loosely seated. Since the device shown is adapted for filling six containers simultaneously, each section of the carrier is provided with a multiple of six sockets, preferably eighteen. At the end of a filling operation, the section carrying the six containers which have just been filled is automatically moved longitudinally and the next succeeding set of six containers is brought into position for filling, means being provided for arresting the carrier with the filling apertures of the containers in register with the respective nozzles.

All the above-mentioned features are present in the apparatus of my former application as well as in the present invention. The specific constructions of the parts and the mechanisms for operating them have been modified, however, to simplify the device as a whole; to provide positively acting means for feeding the carrier to adapt the apparatus for filling containers of different sizes or capacities; to effect more exact adjustment of the pump-operating means and to provide means for regulating the temperature of the liquid or materials to be pumped in order to bring them to the best physical condition for pumping. These and other features of improvement will be fully set forth in the following specification which describes the invention as specifically shown in the accompanying drawings. These drawings illustrate the invention in its .present preferred form. It is realized, however,

that the details shown are capable of modification, and I desire it to be understood that the claims hereinafter made are not intended to be restricted to such details any farther than their express terms require. s 5

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a' front elevation of the invention, parts being broken away for clearness of illustration; Fig. 2 is a plan view, on a reduced scale, of the right-hand end of the carrier and its operating mechanism, as seen in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the operating shaft being shown as if it had been turned through a half rotation; Fig.

4 is a side elevation of one of the nozzles and a portion of the pipe to which it is attached; Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the machine, taken on line 66 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 shows, in plan, the end of one section of the carrier with containers therein and a portion of the means for connecting the section to an adjacent section; Fig. 7a

is a sectional view taken on line la-la of Fig. 7; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the section of the carrier adjacent to the one shown in Fig. '7 and shows the rest of the connecting means; Fig. 8a is a sectional view taken on the line 8a-8a of Fig. 8 showing the reducers or adapters within the sockets of the carrier; Fig. 9 shows, partly in diagram, the means for varying the stroke of the pistons; Fig. 10 is a View of the same means but showing the adjustable connection for the pitman, the latter being omitted; Figs. 11 and 12 are sectional views taken on lines Hll and l2-l2, respectively, of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken longitudinally and centrally v through a portion of the overflow pipe of the tank; Fig. 14 is a plan view of the tank with the cover removed; Fig. 15 is a detail view on line l5l5 of Fig. 1 looking upwardly; Fig. 16 is a sectional view on line l6l6 of Fig. l but on an enlarged scale; Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 1, showing the parts in a different position, and Fig. 18 is a section on line l8-l8 of Fig. 1.

The machine is mounted at any desirable height upon any suitable support ID, to which it may be secured, as by angle-iron feet ll. Upon these feet is supported a U-shaped frame member l2. Rising from this member are the sides l4- and I5 of what may be termed the main .50 frame. Joining the upper ends of these sides is a frame member l6, upon which is an elongated plate I! which projects at one end beyond the side l5 and which forms the support or table for the power mechanisms of the machine. Power is derived from any suitable prime mover, such as an electric motor, as indicated at l8. At I9 is shown the casing of a set of reduction gearing to which the power is transmitted through any suitable connection, as a belt 20, which passes about pulleys on the motor and casing [9. The reduction gearing within the said casing is conventional and it is deemed unnecessary to show and describe it in detail. It connects the shaft upon which the pulley on the casing is secured with a relatively slow-moving shaft 2! which extends through the casing and projects from both of its sides. carries and rotates a disk 22 which has a bolt 23 eccentrically mounted therein and serving as a crank-pin for operating a pitman 24.

Between the side members [4 and I5, and extending from one to the other, is a tank 25, within which is a series of alined cylinders, As best seen in Fig. 6, the tank has a closed bottom through which the cylinders extend so that each cylinder is approximately half within and half below the tank. For convenience of description. these parts of the cylinders are designated 26 and 21, respectively. The part 26 is in free communication with the surrounding interior of the tank through a series of perforations 28 in the cylinder. The part 21 fits liquid-tight in apertures through the bottom, and is imperforate except for a single outlet at 29. Mounted for reciprocation within each cylinder is a piston 30, the same being secured to the lower end of a piston-rod 3| which extends upwardly through the tank cover and is adjustably secured to a horizontal bar 32. By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that six piston-rods are shown and that the bar 32 is connected to each rod, the latter being threaded where they pass through the bar and provided with nuts 33 both above and below the bar so that, by the adjustment of these pairs of nuts, the pistons may be set to start their strokes at precisely the same level, each piston being adjustable independently of the other. In Fig. 6, the piston is shown at the upper end of its stroke. When in that position, the lower perforations in the cylinder part 26 are below the piston and the liquid in the tank can pass into and fill the part 27. Secured to each of the piston-rods 3| within the tank and within the part 26 of the respective cylinder, is a disk-like member 34, the same filling the cylinders and reciprocating therein with the pistons. These members are provided with perforations through which the liquid passes, the members agitating the liquid in the manner of churn-dashers.

The bar 32 has a bracket 35 secured to it midway its ends within which the lower end'of the pitman 24 is pivoted. Each complete rotation of the shaft 2| and the crank-disk 22 results in an up-and-down stroke of the pistons, all of them moving simultaneously, starting from the same level and moving to the same extent.

The liquid is supplied to the tank in any suitable way. Preferably, it is flowed by gravity from some elevated source through a pipe 36 which has a cut-off valve at 31. This pipe may be located wherever it is most convenient. As shown, it is mainly outside the frame member l4 being bent and passed through said member and through a vertical wall of the tank near the top thereof. The valve 3'! will be opened to the extent necessary to supply the liquid as nearly as practicable at the rate at which it is removed by the pumps. The level of the liquid is maintained by an overflow pipe 38 which extends from the On its left-hand end, this shaft bottom of the tank to the desired level. Any excess of the liquid supplied will drain away through the pipe 38. As best shown in Fig. 13, this pipe fits about the upper end of a drain pipe 39 which passes through the bottom of the tank. The latter pipe is provided with an aperture 40 above the tank bottom while the overflow pipe 38 is provided with a similar aperture 4! on the level of the aperture 40. Normally, these apertures are out .of register so that noliquid can pass through them. When it is desired to drain the tank or to flush it, the pipe 38 is simply turned about until the said apertures are in register. While the overflow pipe will prevent the liquid level from rising above its upper end, it may be that the liquid supplied is in excess of that removed by the pumps, particularly under some conditions of operation. In such an event, the excess would escape through the drain pipe, either to be wasted or recovered for return to the source of supply. To avoid this possible loss and trouble, I prefer to provide the tank with a float valve 42, as indicated particularly in Fig. 14. A float 43 rests on the liquid and rises and falls with the liquid level to operate the valve through the rod 44. Float valves are common in various arts; and, since the same is, per se, no part of my present invention, more detailed illustration and description are deemed unnecessary. By so adjusting the position of the float as to cause it to close the valve when the desired liquid level has been attained, any sinking of that level will cause the valve to open automatically, as will be understood.

Some liquids are naturally viscous at normal temperatures and are hard to pump. The difficulty of pumping them increases as they grow colder and some liquids, when cold, are almost plastic. It is sometimes desirable, therefore, to heat the liquid. For that purpose, I associate a coil 45 of pipe with the tank in such a manner that a hot fluid, such as steam or water or oil or air, can be forced through it to heat the liquid. As shown, and by preference, this coil is within the tank so as to be covered by the liquid,

although it may surround the tank on the outside.

Not only is it desirable to start the pistons on their working strokes from the same level, as has been stated, but it is desirable that the length of the strokes be variable so that the quantity of liquid pumped at each stroke accords with the capacity of the container being filled. For, as is indicated in Fig. 8, the containers may vary in capacities. This variation of the length of stroke of the pistons is effected by changing the connection between the pitman 24 and its operat ing crank-disk 22. The means for making such changes is shown in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive. Fig. 9, which is largely diagrammatic, illustrates the principle employed. The disk is provided with a plurality of bolt-receiving apertures which are differently spaced from the axis of the disk. Three of these apertures are indicated at 46, 41 and 48. Any desired number of these apertures may be employed, the same depending upon the number of variations in capacity of the containers used. Adjacent its upper end, the pitman 24 is provided with bolt-receiving apertures, 50, 5| and 52, the number corresponding to the number in the disk. When the disk is turned to bring its apertures into register with those in the pitman and a bolt is passed through apertures 59 and 46, which are farthest from the axis of rotation, the maximum stroke of the piston is obtained. If the bolt be'passed through the in? termediate apertures 5| and 41, a shorter stroke results. The minimum stroke is obtained by passing the bolt through the apertures 52 and 48.

The apertures of the pitman are, of course, stationary therein. If the apertures of the crank-disk were likewise immovable in the disk, the variations in the throw of the pistons could be effected in the manner described; but, unless the apertures are positioned with great accuracy, the variations might not precisely accord with the variations in capacity of the containers, I therefore provide either the pitman or the disk, preferably the latter, as shown, with means whereby the apertures may be shifted in the respective disk for more accurate adjustment of the stroke. Instead of placing the apertures d6, 41 and 48 in the disk itself, I place them in a block 53 which is mounted for radial movement in that face of the disk 22 which is adjacent the pitman. The block slides in ways in the disk and is preferably dove-tailed, as shown in Fig. 12. It is centered in the disk and is provided with a slotted aperture 54 through which the shaft 2! extends. The beveled channel within which the block is moved is open at its lower end, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, but its upper end is closed by an integral portion of the disk. Through this closing portion of the disk passes an adjusting screw 55 which is threaded into the upper end of the block. If the throw of the pistons is not precisely as required, a turn or two of the screw 55 in one direction or the other is all that is necessary to secure the desired throw.

Extending from each of the cylinders 21 at their outlets 29 are the discharge pipes 56, which are passed upwardly in front of the tank, thence forwardly, and are turned downwardly to nozzles 51 which are threaded thereon. One of thesenozzles is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. It is polygonal in horizontal section and has its lower end tapered toward a point in order that it may partially enter the container when the latter is presented to it for filling, as indicated in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. 6. As the liquid flows into the container, the air in the latter must be permitted to escape. For that purpose, grooves 58 are milled or otherwise formed in the nozzles, preferably at the angles of the polygon, as shown. These grooves form ducts which, at their lower ends, open into the container and communicate with the outside air.- As will be shown, the containers which are to be filled are lifted toward the respective nozzles and the tapered ends of the latter partially enter the filling apertures. If these apertures are not in exact alinement with the nozzles, the said tapered ends move or tilt the containers until such alinement is secured. To hold the nozzles rigidly, the forwardly-extending parts of the discharge pipes are preferably connected together by a member 560..

The containers may be of any suitable material and of any desired size and shape. In fact, they may vary in size, as will be shown. Preferably, and usually, they are bottles, as indicated at 59. Since the nozzles are spaced in a horizontal line, the containers are correspondingly arranged below them. For positioning the containers and for moving them horizontally, I provide an elongated carrier 60 having sockets 6! in its upper surface, said sockets being alined and spaced in accordance with the spacing of the nozzles. When in use, the carrier rests and slides upon a guide plate 62 which is supported upon members 63 which project from the main frame.

nozzles.

Upon the guide plate is a pair of parallel angle members 64, the same being spaced apart to form, with the guide plate 62, a guide-Way within which the carrier fits for sliding, as best shown in-Fig, 6. The carrier is made up of a plurality of sections which are adapted to be readily connected and disconnected at their ends. In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown the adjacent ends of twoof these sections. One of them, say the lefthand section, has attached to its upper side, a plate 65 which projects beyond the end of the section where it is provided with eyes which are adapted to receive pins 66 on the other section when the two sections are abutted. At the left in Fig. 1, I have shown how these sections are abutted and hooked together. The apparatus is illustrated as adapted to fill six containers simultaneously. In such an embodiment of the invention, each carrier section would be provided with a multiple of six sockets, preferably eighteen. Fig. 1 shows one section with its first six containers in position for filling. When they are filled they will be lowered from contact with the nozzles, by means hereinafter described, and then the carrier will be moved tothe left to bring the next succeeding containers below the The means for moving the carrierstep by step will now be described, attention being directed to Figs. 1, 2 and 16.

On the end of the drive shaft 2| that is farthest from the motor is a bevel gear 61 which mesheswith a bevel pinion 68 on a short Vertical shaft 69. To the lower end of this shaft is secured a clutch member H3. Below and in alinement with the shaft is a. longer shaft H which preferably extends into an axial bore in the clutch member 79, asindicated in dotted line-s in Fig. 1. Splined upon the upper end of shaft H is a clutch member 72, which is complementary to the member it. A helical spring l3 surrounds the shaft 1| between the clutch member l2 and a collar 14 on the shaft, said spring being under compression and tending to hold the clutch members together so that they will rotate in unison. It will be noted that the member 76 rotates constantly while the machine is in operation. But the shaft H can be permitted but a single rotation at each cycle of operation, as will be seen. Therefore, the clutch members must be held apart during a portion of the cycle and then be 7 permitted to close during the remaining portion thereof, The means for accomplishing this result will presently be described.

Secured to the lower end of shaft ll is a crankdisk 75 having a pin 76 to which a link or pitman l'! is pivoted. The opposite end of the pitman is pivoted to an arm 18 which is adapted to oscillate about or with a vertical post 79 on the machine frame base. Mounted to slide in guides Bil, which are attached to the lower side of the guide plate 62, is a cross-head 8!, best shown in Fig. 16. The arm 18 is slotted, loosely to receive a pin 82 on the crosshead, so that, at each rotation of the disk 15, the cross-head is moved to the left, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and is immediately returned to its normal position where it rests while the clutch members it and 12 are disengaged. The cross-head reciprocates beneath and longitudinally of the carrier 59. Above the cross-head, the guide-plate 62 is slotted at 83. Pivoted at one end within the cross-head is a pawl 84, the other end of which is pressed upwardly by a spring 85 through the slot 83 into engagement with the carrier 60. The carrier is provided with a series of alined grooves or notches on its under side into which the pawl is pressed. These notches, one of which is shown at 88 in Figs. 1 and 16, are spaced apart a distance which is equal to the distance the carrier is moved between the filling operations. .When at the rear end of its stroke, the pawl projects into one of these notches ready to move the carrier.

The clutch member I2 is moved on the splined shaft 'II by a yoke 8'! to which is attached an operating member 88. This member carries an anti-friction roller 89 which is adapted to roll upon a cam 98 on the main operating shaft 2|. The cam may be attached to the shaft, but is preferably a part of or is rigidly connected with the gear 87. As best shown in Fig. 3, the cam periphery is concentric with the shaft 2I but has a reduced or flattened portion at 9|. When the roller 89 reaches this flattened portion, the clutch member is free to rise, under the impulse of the spring 13, to close the clutch and cause the carrier 68 to be advanced, as has been described. The ratio of the gears 81 and 68 and the extent of the flattened portion of the cam are such that the shaft II is given a single and a relatively rapid rotation at each turn of the shaft 2 I. Un-

der what may be termed normal conditions,

therefore, the carrier will be fed at each rotation of said shaft 2|. But there are conditions, as when the capacity of a container exceeds that of the pump, that require two strokes of the pump to each complete filling operation. In such cases, the carrier must remain stationary while the pistons make two complete strokes. In other words, the shaft 'II can be rotated once only while the shaft 2| is making two rotations. The means for effecting this change in the normal operation is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It comprises an auxiliary shaft 92 which is journaled in and projected from the gear casing I9. Secured to it is a gear 93 which meshes with a pinion 94 on the shaft 2I. The gear has twice as many teeth as the pinion so that the shaft 92 turns at half the speed of the shaft 2I. Slidably mounted on the shaft 92 is a stop member 95 which is adapted to be moved into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 or into the dotted line position shown therein. When in the first of these positions it is adapted to intercept a pin 96 which projects from the yoke member 88 of the clutch and hold it depressed so that the roller 89 is prevented from rising toward the fiat part 9| of the cam 98. In Fig. 1, the said flat part is at the topof the cam. But in Fig. 3, it is at the bottom of the cam and the stop 95 is in position to intercept the pin 96, thus to prevent the feeding movement of the carrier. After one full rotation, the cam 98 will again be in the position of Fig. 3, but the stop member will then be turned upwardly so that it cannot intercept the pin. At that second rotation of the shaft 2I therefore, the roller 89 will follow the flattened part of the cam 98, the clutch will close and the carrier will be fed. When the stop member is slid back to its dotted-line position, the roller will roll on the cam continuously and the carrier will be fed at each rotation of the shaft 2|.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown how the carrier may be adapted to the use of different sized containers. Let it be assumed that the right-hand container is a 16 oz. bottle, the intermediate one an 8 oz. and the other a 4 oz.bottle. The 16 oz. bottle fits its socket 6|. The 8 oz. bottle is too small to fit its socket; but to adapt that socket for it, an adapter or reducer is employed. This comprises a cup-shaped member 91 which flts snugly within the socket circumferentially, but is spaced from its bottom, as shown, being held elevated by a flange 98 about its top to rest on the carrier. The interior of the adapter fits the 8 oz. bottle and forms a socket therefor. The 4 oz. bottle is socketed within a second and smaller adapter 99 which is nested within the adapter 91, being held elevated therein by a peripheral flange I88 at its top edge which rests upon the top edge of the outer adapter. It is to be understood that Figs. '7 and 8 do not illustrate a real set-up of the apparatus. At no one time do the sockets of the carrier, or any section of the carrier, contain bottles or other containers of different capacities. The pump pistons are set to deliver a certain quantity of liquid at each stroke, each pumping the same quantity. The containers should, therefore, have the same capacity, sufficient either to be filled at one stroke of the piston or at two strokes when the feedintercepting device of Fig. 3 is employed. When another sized container is to be used, the machine is stopped, the containers are placed in the carrier with the necessary adapters in position and the stroke of the pistons is set to deliver the necessary quantity of liquid for that size of container.

Means are provided for locking the carrier at the end of its feedingmovements. This comprises a locking pin I8I which is mounted on the forward angle member 84 approximately midway between the side frame members I4 and I5. As shown in Fig. 18, this pin projects through the angle member and is pressed endwise toward the carrier 68 by a helical spring I82 which surrounds the pin and abuts at its ends against a housing I83 for the pin and a collar I84 on the latter. At intervals, the carrier is provided with sockets in its forward side into which the pin may be snapped when, in the feeding movement, the socket comes into register with the pin. Fig. 18 shows the pin projected into one of these sockets; and another socket is shown at I in Fig. 1 where the angle-member 64 is broken away. They are spaced apart the same distance that the carrier is fed at one movement of the pawl 84.

It is obvious that the carrier must be unlocked before the feeding movement of the pawl can be started. To do this, the pin I8I is provided with a head I86 on its front end, between which and the housing I83 a wedge-shaped member I81 is adapted to be thrust to pull the pin out of the socket I85. As will be noted from Figs. 1 and 17, this member is forked to straddle the pin. Its

lower end is also bifurcated to receive the end of a lever I88 to which it is pivotally attached. A spring I89, connected to the lever, normally holds the member I8'I in its lowered position to release the pin and allow it to snap rearwardly into its sockets. The lever I88 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends from the plate 62, and its rear end is connected, through a link II8, with the forward end of a lever III which extends to the rear of the machine and is pivoted at II2.

To its rear end is pivoted a vertically extending link-bar II3, the upper end of which is pivotally connected with a lever II4. This latter lever is pivoted within a bracket I I5 on the plate Ii. Its forward end carries an anti-friction roller IIB which rolls upon and is actuated by a relatively short cam III on or carried by the shaft 2 I. At each rotation of this shaft, the roller is pressed downwardly and, through the several elements described, the wedge member I8! is thrust upwardly to withdraw the pin I8I from its socket I 05, thus to release the carrier. This release must take place before the clutch member I2 is moved to operate the feeding mechanism, and the earns and I II are so positioned, as respects the shaft 2|, as to secure the properly timed relation between the locking pin and the feeding mechanism.

The containers 59 are lifted in their respective sockets into contact with the nozzles by pins IIB which project upwardly from a horizontal lifting bar H9 into apertures in the guide-plate 62. At the bottom of each of the sockets BI is an aperture I20 which extends through the carrier and is in register with the apertures in the guide plate when the carrier is in locked position. The lifting-bar is moved upwardly by a long lever I2I which extends rearwardly alongside the lever III and is pivoted at H2 or at a point in axial alinement with H2. The forward end of the lever I2I is forked and the lifting-bar extends through the fork, as best seen in Fig. 6. The forked end of the lever and the bar I I9 are moved upwardly by a tensile spring I22, thus to thrust the pins IIIi through the apertures I28 into contact with the containers and to lift the latter into filling position. For moving the lifting-bar and the pins downwardly after the containers are filled, the lever I2I is pivotally connected at its rear end to a link-bar I22, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to the rear end of a lever I23. The latter lever carries an anti-friction roller I24 at its forward end which is positioned to roll upon a cam I25 on the shaft 2I. The crank-disk 22 and the cam I25 are side by side and may be, and preferably are, integral. The cam III is carried by the cam I25 and is rigidly secured to it or is integral therewith. As will be noted from Fig. 15, which is a view looking upwardly toward the shaft H, the levers m and I23 are substantially parallel and both are curved laterally to join with the respective link-bars I I3 and I22.

The invention may be made to pump liquids of many kinds and consistencies. Before starting to pump any liquid, all the liquid previously used should be drained, not only from the tank but from the pump cylinders and connections to the nozzles. The tank may be almost completely drained through the overflow pipe 39 when the part 38 within the tank is turned to bring the apertures II and d9 into register. But the cylinders and connections cannot be drained in that way. When, however, the pump is operated, the liquid in the cylinders is forced toward and the greater part of it is ejected through the nozzles on the first down stroke. Some of it will remain in the pipes 56 and a part of it will'return to the cylinders on the upward stroke of the pistons. But, even if all of it were sucked back, it would not fill the cylinders. Their upper parts will fill with air; and, on the next down stroke, this air will force most if not all of the liquid through the nozzles. A few such strokes will suffice to eject all the liquid. In fact, all the liquid in the tank can be pumped out, if desired, without using the drain pipe.

But some means other than the relatively small containers 5!! should be provided for receiving the liquid as it comes from the nozzles; For that purpose, I prefer to remove the'carrier altogether and to place a suitably shaped elongated tray or pan either on the upper edges of the guide angles 64 below the nozzles or within the guide-way between said angles. In case the tray is placed within the guide-way, the lifting pins I I8 should be held out of action since, otherwise, they would move the tray up and down without accomplishing any beneficial result. I therefore pivot within a bracket I26 on the guide plate 62 a member having three arms, I21, I28 and I29. The arm I2! is merely a handle or lever for rocking the member. The arm I28 is a combined cam and detent pawl. It is curved, as shown and, when in its normal position, as in Fig. 1, it is above the lifting bar I I9. When the member is rocked to the position shown in'Fig. 17, the arm I28 engages and pushes the bar downwardly where it is held by the engagementof the end of the arm within a notch I30 in the bar orin a plate carried by the bar. Thus is the bar H9 pushed down'by the camrning action of the arm I28 and is held down by the detent action thereof; and while the bar is thus held, against the pull of the spring I22 (Fig. 6), the pins IIB are maintained retracted below the guide-way for the carrier. At the same time, the'arm I29 is brought into engagement with the wedge member IB'I' and-is caused to lift it, thus to withdraw the locking pin IDI and hold it out of the said guide-way.

For indicating, the level of the liquid within the tank, I provide a gauge I3I which communicates with the interior of the tank in the usual way. It is believed that this type of gauge is so well understood as to require no further illustration and description. I

Having thus" described my invention, I claim:

1. An apparatus for filling a container with a liquid which comprises'a cylinder, a piston reciprocab'le within said cylinder, means for sup plying'liquid to said cylinder, a nozzle, liquidcarrying connections between the cylinder and the nozzle, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a pitman connected with said piston, a crank-disk securedto said shaft to rotate therewith, said disk being provided with a plurality of bolt-receiving apertures at different distances from the shaft and; the pitman being provided with a corresponding number of bolt-receiving apertures in alinement, a bolt adapted for insertion into the corresponding apertures of the disk and pitman to effect rough adjustment of the throw of the piston, and means carried by said disk for changing the positionsof the apertures in the latter, whereby the precise throw of the piston may be obtained.

2. An apparatus as set' forth in claim 1 in which the means carried by said disk comprise a block slidable upon the crank-disk, an adjusting screw carried by said disk and threaded into the said block whereby the position of the block on the disk may be varied, said bolt receiving apertures of the disk being within the said block.

3. An apparatus for filling containers with liquid which comprises a tank, means through which liquid issupplied to said tank, a float-controlled valve for regulating the supply of said liquid, an overflow pipe within the said tank, said valve and pipe cooperating to maintain the liquid in the tank at a desired level, a plurality of pump cylinders within said tank, a plurality of nozzles, liquid conductingconnections between the respective cylinders and nozzles, a piston for and reciprocable within each of said cylinders, a pitman, means connecting the pitman with all of said pistons whereby the pistons are moved together when the pitman ism'oved, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a crank-disk secured to'said shaft, a member radially and slidably mounted:

on said disk and provided with a plurality of bolt-receiving aperturesat different distances from the shaft and the pitman being provided with a corresponding number of bolt-receiving apertures in alinement, a bolt adapted for insertion into the corresponding apertures of the said member and the pitman to effect rough adjustment of the throw of the pistons, and means connecting the disk and the sliding member thereon for moving said member on the disk, whereby the positions of the apertures in said member are changed with respect to the shaft and the exact throw of the pistons is secured.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the tank is provided with a drain pipe which projects through and above the tank bottom and in which the lower end of the overflow pipe fits about the upper end of the drain pipe, the overlapping ends of said pipes each being provided with an aperture through which the liquid in the tank may drain when the overflow pipe is turned to bring said apertures into register.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the tank is provided with a coil through which a temperature-controlling medium may be passed to bring the liquid in the tank to the most desirable temperature for pumping.

6. An apparatus for filling a container with a liquid which comprises a pump cylinder, a piston reciprocable within said cylinder, means for supplying liquid to said cylinder, a nozzle, liquidconveying connections between the cylinder and the nozzle, a carrier having means for holding containers thereon, means for presenting a container to the nozzle to receive liquid therefrom when the said piston is moved on its pumping stroke, a pitman through which the piston is moved, a main shaft, connections between the pitman and shaft for reciprocating the piston as the shaft rotates, means for locking the said carrier against movement while the container is being filled, a gear secured to said shaft, a pinion meshed with said gear, the pinion being smaller than the gear, a clutch-member connected with said pinion,a feed-shaft for said carrier, a clutchmember on said feed-shaft and adapted to rotate it when the clutch-members are engaged, means for impelling one of said clutch-members toward the other to cause them to engage, a cam on the main shaft, means cooperating with said cam for holding the clutch-members disengaged while the container is being filled and for permitting their engagement after the container is filled,,means operable from said main shaft for unlocking the carrier and means operated by said feed shaft for feeding the carrier after the same is unlocked to bring another container into position for presentation to the nozzle. I

'7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which the carrier is an elongated structure made up in sections with abutting ends and having means at their abutting ends for detachably holding the sections together, said carrier having feeding notches on one of its sides, said notches being regularly spaced at distances equal to the distance the carrier is fed after the container is filled, and in which the carrier is moved by a pawl having operating connections with the feedshaft.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which the carrier is locked while the container is being filled by a pin, the carrier having sockets into which said pin is adapted to be projected, a spring for forcing the said pin into said sockets, a wedge-shaped member for withdrawing the pin from its socket to unlock the carrier, a cam on the main shaft and means connecting the latter cam with said wedge-shaped member, said latter cam and the cam for controlling the clutch member of the feeding mechanism turning together but being so arranged that the locking-pin is withdrawn from its socket before the clutchmembers are engaged.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which the carrier is an elongated structure made up in sections with abutting ends and having feeding notches on one of its sides, said notches being regularly spaced at distances equal to the distance the carrier is fed after the container is filled, and in which the feed-shaft is provided with a crank-disk, a pivoted lever, a link connecting the feed disk and the pivoted lever, a slide-way extending parallel with the carrier, a cross-head reciprocable within said slide-way and pivotally connected with said pivoted lever, and a pawl carried by said cross-head for engaging in the feeding notches in the carrier.

10. An apparatus for filling a container with a liquid, which comprises a main operating shaft, a pump for the liquid operatively connected with said shaft, a nozzle through which the liquid is pumped into the container, a carrier for moving containers to and from a position opposite the nozzle; means, for locking the carrier when it has reached said position, a first cam secured to said operating shaft, means operated by said first cam for presenting the container which is positioned opposite the nozzle to said nozzle for filling and for removing it from the nozzle after filling, a second cam secured to the operating shaft, means operated by said second cam and connected with the lock for the carrier for releasing the carrier after the container is filled, a third cam secured to said shaft, and means controlled by said third cam for feeding the carrier to bring another container opposite the nozzle, said three cams being so timed in their operations that the container is first moved toward and from the nozzle, then the carrier is unlocked and is then fed.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which the nozzle has a tapered portion which is adapted to enter the filling orifice of the container as the latter is presented for filling to center the container with respect to the nozzle, and in which the nozzle is provided with an exterior channel through which the air in the container is vented as the container fills.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which the means operated by the first cam for presenting the container to the nozzle for filling comprises a pivoted lever which is rocked by the said cam, a second pivoted lever, a link connecting said levers, a tensional spring connected with the last-mentioned lever for holding the first lever in engagement with the said cam, a lifting bar beneath the carrier, said bar having a pin thereon which projects upwardly and is adapted to contact with the container which is in position for presentation to the nozzle, and means connecting the second pivoted lever with the lifting bar, whereby said bar and its. pin are lifted by the pull of the said spring and are lowered by the positive action of the cam upon the firstmentioned lever.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which the means operated by the second cam which controls the lock for the carrier comprises a pivoted lever which is rocked by said cam, a second pivoted lever, a link-bar connecting the said two levers, a spring attached to the said second lever for pulling the front end of the second lever down and for moving the first lever toward the said cam and in which the locking means for the carrier comprises, a locking pin, a spring for moving said pin into locking engagement with the carrier, a wedge-shaped member pivotally connected with the front end of said second lever and adapted to be lifted by said lever into engagement with the said pin to withdraw it from engagement with the carrier.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which the means operated by the second cam which controls the lock for the carrier comprises a pivoted lever which is rocked by said cam, a second pivoted lever, a link-bar connecting the said two levers, a spring for pulling the front end of the second lever down and for moving the first lever toward the said cam and in which the locking means for the carrier comprises, a locking-pin having a head on its front end, a spring for moving the rear end of said pin into locking engagement with the carrier, a wedge-shaped member pivotally connected with the front end of said second lever and adapted to be lifted into engagement with the head of the locking pin, said member being yoke-shaped to straddle the pin at the rear of its head and, by engagement of the latter by the wedge surfaces of said member, to pull the pin forwardly and out of engagement with the carrier.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 in which the means controlled by the third cam for feeding the carrier comprises a gear turning with the cam, a short shaft, a pinion on said shaft meshing with said gear and adapted for continuous rotations, a clutch member carried by said short shaft and turning therewith, a feeding shaft alined with said short shaft, a clutch-member splined upon the feeding shaft and adapted for entering into driven engagement with the clutch-member on the said short shaft, means driven from the feeding shaft for feeding the carrier, and means operated by said third cam for moving the clutch member on the feeding shaft out of engagement with the other clutch member and for permitting the clutch members to be closed for turning the feeding shaft.

16. An apparatus for filling containers with a liquid which comprises a main shaft, a plurality of cylinders, a piston for and reciprocable within each of said cylinders, a nozzle for each cylinder, said nozzles being in horizontal alinement, liquid conducting means connecting each nozzle with its respective cylinder, means for supplying the liquid to said cylinders, means connecting the main shaft and the said pistons for reciprocating the latter, an elongated carrier having provisions for holding containers, said containers being held thereon in horizontal alinement, means for feeding said carrier endwise step-by-step to bring at each step a series of containers to positions below the respective nozzles, means for lifting the containers so positioned into engagement with the respective nozzles for filling, means operable from the main shaft for causing the filled containers to return to their former positions on the carrier, means for locking the carrier against movement while the carriers thereon are thus lifted, means operable from the main shaft for unlocking the carrier prior to its feeding movement, the feeding means for the carrier being adapted normally for which the provisions for holding the containers on the carrier consists of sockets into which the containers fit and cup-shaped adapters fitting into the sockets to reduce their sizes for smaller containers, said adapters each having a socket for fitting the smaller containers and also for fitting a smaller adapter, as and for the purpose specified. 18. An apparatus for filling containers with a liquid which comprises a main shaft, a plurality of cylinders, a piston for and reciprocable within each of said cylinders, a nozzle for each cylinder, said nozzles being in alinement, liquid conducting means connecting each nozzle with its respective cylinder, means for supplying the liquid to said cylinders, means connecting the main shaft and the said pistons for reciprocating the latter, an elongated carrier having provisions for holding containers, said containers being held thereon in horizontal alinement, means operated from the main shaft for normally feeding the carrier endwise at each rotation of the main shaft, a second shaft having a gear thereon, a pinion on the main shaft meshing with the said gear and having half as many teeth as the gear whereby the second shaft is rotated but once for each double rotation of the main shaft, and a member slidably mounted on said second shaft for controlling the operation of the feeding means, said member being adapted to be moved into one position where it has no effect on the feeding means and the latter is operated at each rotation of the main shaft or to be moved into a second position where it holds the feeding means from operation at each alternate rotation of the main shaft.

. 19. An apparatus for filling containers with a liquid which comprises a main shaft, a plurality of cylinders, a piston for and reciprocable within each of said cylinders, a nozzle for each cylinder,

said nozzles being in horizontal alinement, liquidconducting means connecting each nozzles with its respective cylinder, means for supplying the liquid to said cylinders, means connecting the main shaft and the said pistons for reciprocating the latter, an elongated carrier having provisions for holding containers, said containers being held thereon in horizontal alinement, means for feeding said carrier endwise step-by-step to bring at each step a series of containers to positions below the respective nozzles, means for lifting the containers so positioned into engagement with the respective nozzles for filling, means operable from the main shaft for causing the filled containers to return to their former positions on the carrier, members forming a slidaway within which the carrier is moved, said carrier being capable of bodily removal from the slideway, a locking-pin carried by one of said slidaway members and engageable with the carrier for locking it against feeding movement, and a member on one of said slideway members for disabling the means for lifting the containers and for holding the locking-pin out of operation when the carrier is to be removed from its slideway, for the purpose specified.

SAMUEL SAETA. 

